DATE=6/25/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234518
TITLE=SAF OFFICIAL (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DELIA ROBERTSON
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A SENIOR SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIAL BEING HELD IN MOZAMBIQUE
HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ESPIONAGE, GUN-RUNNING, AND CRIMINAL
CONSPIRACY. V-O-A'S DELIA ROBERTSON REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHERN
AFRICA BUREAU THE DEVELOPMENT WAS EXPECTED.
TEXT: THE SUSPENDED SOUTH AFRICAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICIAL,
ROBERT MCBRIDE, HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ESPIONAGE AS WELL AS
CONSPIRING WITH CRIMINALS. IF CONVICTED, MR, MCBRIDE FACES A
POSSIBLE 20-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE. MR MCBRIDE WAS ARRESTED MARCH
SEVENTH. HE HAS SINCE BEEN HELD IN MACHAVA MAXIMUM SECURITY
PRISON IN THE CAPITAL, MAPUTO.
MR. MCBRIDE'S WIFE, PAULA MCBRIDE, HAS DESCRIBED THE CHARGES AS
OUTRAGEOUS, SAYING THAT THEY ARE CONTRADICTORY. EARLIER, MRS.
MCBRIDE, A LAWYER, SAID MR. MCBRIDE WAS INVESTIGATING GUN-RUNNING
TO SOUTH AFRICA ON BEHALF OF AN UNIDENTIFIED SOUTH AFRICAN
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT MR. MCBRIDE IS NOT A
MEMBER OF -- NOR WAS HE ACTING ON BEHALF OF -- ANY OF ITS
INTELLIGENCE SERVICES. BOTH THE SOUTH AFRICAN AND MOZAMBIQUE
GOVERNMENTS SAY MR. MCBRIDE DID NOT INFORM THEM OF HIS PRESENCE
IN MOZAMBIQUE.
EARLIER, THE RULING AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS SAID THAT IT IS
POSSIBLE THAT MR MCBRIDE WAS TRAPPED -- PROBABLY BY SECURITY
AGENTS OF THE FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT. LOCAL NEWS MEDIA
HAVE ALSO SPECULATED THAT MR. MCBRIDE WAS TRAPPED PROBABLY
BECAUSE OF HIS ROLE IN AN APARTHEID-ERA BOMBING OF A BAR IN WHICH
THREE WOMEN DIED.
MR. MCBRIDE WAS A MEMBER OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
MILITARY WING AND WAS IN 1986 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR THE MURDERS.
HIS SENTENCE WAS LATER COMMUTED AND HE WAS RELEASED IN 1993 AS
PART OF AN AGREEMENT THAT LED TO SOUTH AFRICA'S FIRST DEMOCRATIC
ELECTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAR/JWH
25-Jun-98 9:31 AM EDT (1331 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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